Page 92 of One Timer With A Wingman

“You’re very observant. Did you want to order?” I ask.

The guy goes to open his mouth. His friend elbows him. “Bruh, she’s Aaron Murray’s girlfriend. Shut the fuck up,” his friend warns.

This isn’t the first time a patron is commenting on how pregnant I am. Some of them like to crack jokes at my expense. I’m at the point where I am too blissfully happy to care. But it is funny when I have a situation when someone knows Aaron, and they are scared of him beating their ass. So far that hasn’t happened.

“Sorry, I’ll have the BLT,” the guy says.

The rest of them give me their order without a hitch. I enter it into the system and go to the bar to collect their drinks.

I see Jace at the bar. “Are the customers behaving today?”

“Mostly,” I say.

Jack walks out of the kitchen. “I promised Aaron I’d have your back if someone starts something with you.”

“I promised him the same thing,” Jace says.

“Oh boy, I really need to remind my boyfriend I can take care of myself,” I say as I lift the drinks.

I head over to the table and place the drinks. After I walk back to the kitchen. Nugget gives me a good kick and I keel forward. Sofia is on day shift with me, and she notices.

“Are you okay?” she asks.

“Yeah, I’ve just been having these sudden cramps. It’s fine. It passed,” I assure.

“Um, Briar, my brother’s wife just had a baby this summer and they were staying with us. She had cramping pains, and they were called contractions,” Sophia states.

“Nah, I think these are Braxton Hicks. I would know if I was in labor,” I say to her.

For the rest of my shift, I feel the cramps off and on. By the time I get home and place my feet up on the coffee table, they have completely subsided.

Ruby walks through the door with Mack. “Oh hey, we were just about to cook something for dinner. Are you hungry?”

“You know you don’t have to worry about feeding me,” I assure my friend.

“Babe, we’re cooking anyway,” she declares.

“Thanks. That would be great. Do you guys know where Aaron is? I tried to call him, and he wasn’t answering.” I knew he didn’t have a class this time of day, so I wondered where he went.

“He’s meeting with Coach,” Macklin says.

“Oh, okay,” I say since he didn’t mention anything.

I start watching the soap opera I was watching with Catherine in the summer when she calls.

“Hi, Catherine, how are you?” I ask.

“Better now that my cast is off,” she replies. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m tired and ready to have this baby,” I admit.

“I’ll bet. Brody and I spent some time in the kitchen this morning cooking. I’ve made meals that you can freeze so you have something to eat once the baby comes along,” she says.

“Aw! Thanks. That’s so thoughtful,” I reply, followed by a howl as I feel a strong pain.

“Briar, are you okay?” Catherine asks with alarm.

“It’s nothing, it’s these stupid Braxton Hicks,” I explain as I rub my belly.

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